SHS

Earth and Life

Science
Module 1: Evolving Concept of Life Based on Emerging Pieces
of Evidence
Earth and Life Science
Grade 11/12 Week 1: Module 1: Evolving Concept of Life Based on
Emerging Pieces of Evidence
First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: GRACE L. BEJAR, T-I

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Cover Art Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Illustrator: Robin Ace De Guzman

Management Team:

Atty. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent

Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, PhD

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

German E. Flora, PhD, CID Chief

Virgilio C. Boado, PhD, EPS in Charge of LRMS

Rominel S. Sobremonte, Ed.D., EPS in Charge of Science

Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II

Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II

 11

Earth and Life Science

Week 1 - Module 1
Evolving Concept of Life Based on
Emerging Pieces of Evidence
 Target

We are part and we live in a vast universe that we have only begun to explore.
Up to now, we know of only one planet – Earth – that has life and has liquid water.
In addition, the similarities of biochemical, metabolic, and genetic make-up among
Earth’s species imply that all evolved from a common ancestor that lived billion years
ago.

This module will focus on historical development of the concept of life. It will
provide you with information and activities that will help you understand and
appreciate the essence of life.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. explain the evolving concept of life based on emerging pieces of evidence

(S11/12ES-IIa-1)
 Lesson Introduction to Life Science
1
Historical Development of the Concept of Life

Jumpstart

Activity 1: Picture Analysis

Observe the picture above. It shows a timeline of the history of life on Earth.
Give three (3) observations about the picture.
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________

Think about the first life forms on Earth. Many theories about the origin of life
have emerged. Cite at least one theory that you know and explain it briefly.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
 Discover

The Earth began to exist about 4.6 billion years ago. As believed by many
scientists, the existence of life started from the moment the Earth’s environment
became stable to support life. For billions of years now, life is believed to have existed
on Earth. Scientists do not precisely know when did life begin on planet Earth.
However, they are able to trace how life has developed and evolved using some pieces
of evidence.

Origin of Life

There are many emerging theories about the origin of life. Some believed that
living organisms were placed and put to Earth by some divine forces. Others say that
life originated from other planets, not from Earth. But among scientists and
theorists, the most accepted theory about the concept of life is that life came from
inanimate matter.

Primordial Soup Theory

This theory was proposed by Alexander Oparin and John Haldane. According
to this theory, life started in a primordial soup of organic molecules. Some form of
energy from lightning combined with the chemicals in the atmosphere to make amino
acids, the building blocks of protein.

Also, several scientists conducted different experiments that modeled

conditions which may have enabled the first life forms to evolve. Among these
experiments are: the Electrical Discharge Experiment, Thermal Synthesis, and The
Protocell Experiment.

Electrical Discharge Experiment

In this experiment, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey verified the primordial
soup theory by simulating the formation of organic molecules on the early Earth. They
had confined methane, ammonia, water, and hydrogen in a closed system and
applied continuous electrical sparks to trigger the formation of the building blocks
of life. They observed a change of color in the solution after a day. After a week, the
solution was tested. They found out that several amino acids were produced. The
purpose of this experiment was not to try and produce amino acids. Its main purpose
was to explore and discover the conditions of the early Earth and what the naturally
occurring results would be.

Thermal Synthesis
Sidney Fox demonstrated in his experiment the origin of life with the use of a
specific mixture of pure, dry amino acids. As observed in his experiment, after
heating the mixture, an aqueous solution was formed and cooled into microscopic
globules called protenoid microspheres. The globules looked like coccoid bacteria
and seemed to be budding. Budding is a form of reproduction in some
microorganisms. Sidney Fox claimed that the protenoid microspheres
constituted protocells – almost true cells, and multiplied through division like true
cells. He believed that these cells were the link between the true living cells and the
primordial environment.

The Protocell Experiment

In this experiment, Jack Szostak contemplated on how early life forms formed
in a primordial chemical environment. Szostak then thought that the simplest
possible living cells or protocells just required two components to be formed. The
components include: a nucleic acid genome to transmit the genetic information and
a lipid sac which encapsulated the genome and let itself grow and divide.

Szostak developed and built lipid sacs made in fatty acids and a replicase –
an RNA molecule that catalyzes its own replication in the test tube. He discovered
that lipid sacs with more RNA grew faster. He recommended that such test tube
evolution was possible. The results suggested that the early life forms with just a
single gene, an RNA gene, could have undergone a Darwinian evolution.

Early Forms of Life

About 3.5 billion years ago, the first form of life is believed to have appeared.
The first evidence of life is found and seen in microfossils – are fossils that contain
the remains of tiny plants and animals. These are very small and can be measured
in millimeters. Some could only be identified under a microscope.

Some of the remains of organisms do not have a nucleus so they were called
as prokaryotes – they are known to be the earliest forms of life. They have endured
and survived the extreme conditions of the early environment. They started to
produce and make their own food by utilizing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
and the energy from the sun. These are the photosynthetic organisms. The process of
photosynthesis produced more oxygen that modified and changed the Earth’s early
atmosphere. This change in the atmosphere has allowed oxygen-breathing organisms
to exist. The first photosynthetic organisms to form are the cyanobacteria. Their
microfossils are among the easiest to identify. Their morphology remained the same,
and they left chemical fossils in the form of broken products from pigments.

The first microfossil was seen in rocks about 1.5 billion years old. It showed
remains of organisms with differences in structure from the simple form of life. They
are larger than bacteria, and they have internal membranes and thicker wall. These
findings have marked the beginning of eukaryotic organisms on Earth.

How did multicellular organisms evolve?

It is believed that multicellular organisms have evolved from unicellular
eukaryotes. Some single eukaryotic cells, like unicellular algae, formed multicellular
aggregates through association with another cell producing colonies. The organisms
evolved to form multicellular organisms from colonial aggregates through cell
specialization. Protozoans, sponges, and fungi came to being.
 The first fossilized animals which were found 580 million years ago were soft-
bodied. The emergence of complex and diverse plants and animals, including human
beings was brought about by the continuous process of cell specialization.

Evidence from fossil layers had proved that different forms of life were present
and have evolved through time. According to Charles Darwin, organisms change over
time as a result of adaptation to their environment in order to survive. He published
his thoughts about evolution and natural selection in his book – On the Origin of
Species.

Explore

Enrichment Activity 1: Arrange and Define Me!

Arrange the jumbled letters and describe each term. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

M O F I S I C R O L S

1. ______________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

E K U R A Y T O E S

2. ______________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

P T O H S Y O H T E N I S S

3. ______________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

P Y O R A K T R E O S

4. ______________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

C A R L E S H D R A W N I

5. ______________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Enrichment Activity 2: Match Me!
Choose the correct answer that corresponds the description on each item.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

A. Electrical Discharge Experiment C. Thermal Synthesis

B. Primordial Soup Theory D. The Protocell Experiment

_____ 1. Simulated the formation of organic molecules on the early Earth

_____ 2. The combination of chemicals in the atmosphere and energy from lightning
had formed amino acids.
_____ 3. Performed by Jack Szostak
_____ 4. Used a mixture of dry amino acids
_____ B.
5. Proposed by Oparin and Haldane
_____ 6. The proponent of this experiment is Sidney Fox
_____ 7. Used a nucleic acid genome to transmit the genetic information and a lipid
sac to let itself grow and divide
_____ 8. Miller and Urey demonstrated this experiment

Enrichment Activity 3: Give Me Life!

Use the word LIFE as an acronym. Using each letter, construct a word,
phrase or sentence that is related to the lesson.

E
 Deepen

Eyes On Me!

What you need

Saucer
Slice of meat

What you have to do

1. Cut a small slice of meat.

2. Place it on a saucer.
3. Leave the meat in an isolated area for 3 to 5 days.
4. Note what will happen.
5. Answer the guide questions.

Guide Questions:

A. Write your observations. Use a separate sheet of paper.

Day 0 Day 3 Day 5

B. What did you see on the meat after three (3) to five (5) days?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

C. What brought them there?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

D. What would happen to the meat when left beyond five (5) days?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

E. How will you relate this activity to the evolving concept of life?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
 Gauge

Directions: Read carefully each item. Use a separate sheet of paper for your answers.
Write only the letter of the best answer for each test item.

1. The first form of life is believed to have appeared some billion years ago. When
did the early life forms of life exist?
A. 1.5 billion years ago C. 3.5 billion years ago
B. 2.5 billion years ago D. 4.6 billion years ago

2. Photosynthesis has brought changes on the early Earth’s environment. Which

of the following is the first photosynthetic organism to form?
A. Algae C. Fungi
B. Cyanobacteria D. Protozoans

3. Which of the following is NOT true about prokaryotes?

A. They are simple in structure, small, and unicellular.
B. They are not capable of making their own food.
C. They survive in extreme conditions.
D. They do not have nucleus.

4. There are evidences that life has evolved billion years ago. Where is the first
form of life seen?
A. Layers of rocks C. Oceanic crusts
B. Microfossils D. Sediments

5. What theory proposes that life began in an ocean as a product of the

combination of chemicals from the atmosphere and some form of energy to
produce the building blocks of life?
A. Catastrophism C. Primordial soup theory
B. Evolution theory D. Spontaneous generation

6. Who among the following scientists verified the primordial soup theory by
simulating the formation of organic molecules on the early Earth?
I. Haldane II. Miller III. Oparin IV. Urey

A. I and II C. II and III

B. I and III D. II and IV
 7. Who proposed the primordial soup theory?
I. Haldane II. Miller III. Oparin IV. Urey

A. I and II C. II and III

B. I and III D. II and IV

8. Sidney Fox demonstrated the thermal synthesis. What was the product of his
experiment using a mixture of dry amino acids?
A. Amino acids C. Nucleic acid genome
B. Lipid sacs D. Protenoid microspheres

9. The following components were used by Jack Szostak to produce protocells.

Which of the DOES NOT belong to the group?
A. DNA C. Nucleic acid genome
B. Lipid sacs D. RNA

10. How did Miller and Urey verify the primordial soup theory?
A. In their experiment, they used a mixture of pure, dry amino acids and
subjected the mixture to heat to form protenoid microspheres.
B. In their experiment, they used a nucleic acid genome to transmit the genetic
information and a lipid sac to let itself grow and divide.
C. They validated the theory by using chemicals from the atmosphere and
energy from lightning to form amino acids.
D. They confined methane, ammonia, water, and hydrogen in a closed system
and applied continuous electrical sparks.

11. The following statements are true about the evolving concept of life. Which
statement is INCORRECT?
A. The photosynthetic organisms decreased the amount of oxygen in the
atmosphere.
B. Organisms change over time as a result of adaptation for survival.
C. Multicellular organisms evolved from unicellular eukaryotes.
D. The earliest forms of life were the prokaryotes.

12. Which of the following processes brought changes in the early atmosphere?
A. Earthquake C. Volcanic eruption
B. Photosynthesis D. Weathering

13. Which of the following multicellular organisms first evolved from colonial
aggregates?
I. Fungi II. Mollusks III. Protozoans IV. Sponges

A. I, III C. I, III, IV
B. I, II, IV D. I, II, III, IV
14. The evolution of multicellular organisms are supported by the following
statements. Which is NOT true?
A. The single-celled organisms that formed multicellular aggregates were like
the cells of algae.
B. They are formed from multicellular colonial aggregates through cell
specialization.
C. The process of continuous specialization brought more complex organisms.
D. They are believed to have evolved from single-celled prokaryotes.

15. Do you think living organisms are still evolving today, considering the present
condition of the environment?
A. Yes, because humans are continuously changing the environment that
triggers evolution among living organisms in order to die.
B. Yes, because evolution is a natural phenomenon which we cannot stop from
happening.
C. No, because there is no condition outside their bodies that will trigger
evolution.
D. No, because there is no existing scientific evidence about the evolution of
life.
Gauge Enrichment Activity 3
1. C 6. D 11. A Answers vary
2. B 7. B 12. B
3. B 8. D 13. C
4. A 9. A 14. D
5. C 10.D 15. B
Enrichment Activity 1
Enrichment Activity 2
1. A 5. B 1. Microfossils
2. B 6. C 2. Eukaryotes
3. D 7. D 3. Photosynthesis
4. C 8. A 4. Prokaryotes
5. Charles Darwin
Activity 1: Picture Analysis
Observations: (Other answers may be accepted based on teacher’s discretion)
1. Life on Earth began at least 4 billion years ago.
2. Life diversity on Earth is the result of evolution.
3. In the beginning, living things on Earth were single-celled organisms, after
several years multicellular organisms evolved.
Answer Key
References

Printed Materials:

Commission on Higher Education. (2016). Lesson 25: Introduction to Life Science,

Earth and Life Teaching Guide for Senior High School (pp. 167-173). Quezon
City, Philippines

Petersen, James F. et al. (2016). Earth and Life Sciences. Manila, Philippines: Rex
Book Store, Inc.

Online and Electronic Resources

https://study.com/academy/lesson/primordial-soup-theory-model-quiz.html

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/topics/resource-library-evolution/

https://www.quipper.com/ph/